Toluca 4 vs 0 LAFC summary: stats, score and highlights | Concacaf Champions Cups semifinal second leg

The stage is set as Mexico reasserts their dominance in this competition. It will be Toluca and Tigres UANL in the final of the Concacaf Champions Cup come May 30th. The two Liga MX teams beat MLS sides LAFC and Nashville SC and now these two former winners will meet on the biggest stage of this international tournament. This assures that Liga MX will have yet another CCC title to add to their cabinet after Mexican teams have won 19 of the last 20 CCC trophies. Click here as Will Gittens breaks down the final coming at the end of the month. 

Paulinho added one more for good measure as Perez once again set him up with a gorgeous ball into the box, this one was intentional. After swiping the ball away from LAFC in the midfield, Perez had a peek up and saw the Portuguese sniper in behind the defense. The ball was perfectly weighted and Paulinho needed just a touch to put the cherry on top of a perfect night from the Estadio Nemesio Diez. Tolcua have looked like the most potent side in the tournament in large part due to Paulinho, and now the most dangerous attacking team in the CCC is heading to the final in a few weeks time. 

Ryan Porteous was shown a red card in the 86th minute with LAFC still needing just a goal to level things up in the tie. He took a sloppy touch on a ball played to the final defender and ended up taking a Toluca played down to save a goal but would be send his marching orders by the referee. Substitute Pavel Perez capitalized on the man advantage by taking his space and running diagonally at defenders before entering the area and trying a shot on goal that ended up being a perfect cross to you know who. Paulinho, as all natural strikers do, had placed himself in perfect position to bury the decisive goal in stoppage time and close out LAFC while taking sole possession of the title top scorer in the Concacaf Champions Cup. 

Ten minutes after the opener, it was Mark Delgado who was caught being a bit too casual with the ball played from the back and Everardo de Villar took a touch to tee himself up and fired this rocket into the back of the net for the all important second goal for the Diablos Rojos. This goal put control of the tie in Toluca's hands. They were either going to have to lock down and defend the rest of the way, or add to their lead to tuck LAFC to bed. They ended up doing both. 

Toluca's sense of urgency was palpable coming out of the dressing room as they came out smelling blood, destined to get on the board. The opener came from the penalty spot, but it wasn't who you'd expect taking the spot kick. Instead of the top scorer in the competition, it was Helinho who stepped to the spot and tucked the 1-0 past Lloris to give the home fans all the hope in the world for the final 40 minutes. 

Toluca continued to look for their opener 30 minutes in as LAFC was in bend but don't break mode for much of the match. This time there was nothing Lloris could do as Nicolas Castro fired a one touch shot off the woodwork from the top of the area. LAFC was a bit fortunate not to see this chance go in as they bent, but didn't break through the first 45 minutes. 

It's Toluca who are moving on to the Concacaf Champions Cup final after turning the tie around in front of their home fans in what was an explosive, attacking, free flowing contest from the start. Four Toluca goals after the break flipped this tie on it's head but it was still in the balance until the final minutes from Toluca. 

Ruiz has one of the early chances for Toluca who came out of the gate knowing they needed goals to win this game. They played fearless and they went after the win from the start. Hugo Lloris was able to keep Toluca off the board 20 minutes in but he was in store for a busy night. 

What a spectacle we had from the Estadio Nemesio Diez on Wednesday night! It started even before the opening whistle was blown as the Toluca fans were out in full voice and full spirit for the second leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup. 

Toluca looked like the better side for the second 90 minutes from Mexico, but the match was still in the balance until the final few minutes. Who was it to close the tie out and punch the ticket to the final? The top scorer in the competition. Paulinho has been unstoppable over the last couple rounds of the CCC. He's got 8 goals in the six matches and might still add to that tally yet. 

IT'S ALL OVER!!!!

Toluca are heading to the final of the Concacaf Champions Cup final where they will meet Tigres UANL in an all Mexican affiar on May 30th!!!

The Estadio Nemesio Diez is literally jumping up and down in the final few seconds of this tie!

GOOOOOOAAAALLLLL!!!!

ONE MORE FOR GOOD MEASURE!!!! Paulinho again from another perfect pass from Perez, this time he was trying to play the ball to the feet of Paulinho who was running into the box from the left side and he tucks it past Lloris with a brilliant strike and the top scorer for the tournament puts Toluca in the final with an exclamation point!

GOOOOAAAAALLLLLL!!!!!

Toluca just sealed this game with the third and final blow for LAFC. It was a lovely bit of dribbling from Perez and he looked to end it himself with a shot that turned into a perfect ball across goal that was tucked away by Paulinho!

3-0 Toluca who are on to the final!!!

Castro coming out for Briseno for the final few minutes. 

Six minutes to play here from the Nemesio Diez. 

Diagonal ball sent into the box for Tafari but that he got a head to but couldn't direct to a teammate and it falls easily for Garcia. 

The free kick after the red card from the top of the area from Ruiz rises over the cross bar and Lloris puts it in play quickly 

The job just got that much harder for LAFC who still need a goal to equalize this tie and send this match into extra time. 

PORTEOUS HAS JUST BEEN SENT OFF!!!

He controled a pass back very poorly and Paulinho stripped him of possession. He was in on goal and Porteous took him down and was shown a red card with out a shadow of a doubt. 

Martinez driving into the area, and he took a heavy touch that rolled out over the line for a goal kick. Chances getting few and far between as we approach the 90th.

The counter is now on for Paulinho and Paulinho was 1 v1 one with a defender since about midfield and he makes a move inside and takes a shot with plenty of pace on goal, but it's Lloris keeping his side in the tie with another save. 

Toluca have dropped back into a shell after the subs and now it's going to be up to LAFC to find their space through the tight gaps of the defense. 

Helinho coming out, so too is Angulo and Perez and Arce are in to do their defensive duties for the rest of the way. 

This one is not over from the Estadio Nemesio Diez. 

On the counter off of that near goal and it was Ebobisse 1 v 1 with the keeper and he was stifled by Garcia, and the rebound was dinked over the keepers hands by Bouanga but hit off the cross bar!!! LAFC almost had the equalizer there with 10 minutes to go!

Paulinho was played a perfect ball into the right side of the area and he cut back before lacing one on goal. Lloris was there to palm it away, and the rebound at point blank range banged off the post for Angulo! LAFC are still alive!!!

Toluca are perfectly fine with knocking the ball around and watching the clock count up to 90. LAFC need to pressure a little more. 

Son with a free kick from distance and he plays it short to Martinez but he wasn't ready for the pass and it was taken away easily by Guerrero. 

Ball sent in from Castro and that is cleared out of the area and Martinez almost took it all the way into the other box on the counter before getting cut out. 

Corner kick for Toluca and they can close this match out and this tie out in the blink of an eye. 

LAFC are going to need to get their away goal to even up this tie. Where is it going to come from? They have the attacking talent, but Toluca have kept them at bay in this cauldron that has been the Estadio Nemesio Diez. 

Who is waiting in the final, and when 

You probably already know by now, but the winner of this two legged tie is heading to the final to take on Tigres UANL on the 30th of May. Tigres took care of business at home last night, beating Nashville SC 1-0 at home and taking a 2-0 aggregate to return to the final for the first time since 2020 when they won it over this very same LAFC side. If LAFC move on it would set up a rematch of that final six years ago, and if Toluca are able to turn things around tonight it would set up an all Mexico final at the end of the month. 

CONCACAF

Not just titles: How Mexico dominates the U.S. in the CONCACAF Champions Cup

Liga MX dominance 

There is no questioning which country has dominated this tournament since it's inception over a half century ago. Liga MX clubs had made this their tournament, and it’s not just Cruz Azul and Club America who each have a record seven Concacaf Champions Cups. Pachuca have six titles, Monterey have five, meanwhile Toluca has two and Tigres have one. History would suggest that LAFC are going to have a tough time tonight in Toluca as the Red Devils look to set up an all Mexico final. 

CCC History: LAFC 

This is just the fourth time that LAFC have been in this tournament, but every time they enter the CCC they make noise. They went to the final in their first appearance losing to Tigers UNAL in 2020. Their second CCC campaign came in 2023 and they were runners up again, losing 3-1 to Club Leon de Mexico. Last year was their third appearance in the CCC, and they went to the QF, where they are at this stage of the tournament.

CCC history: Toluca

It's been over two decades since los Diablos Rojos have won the Cup in this competition, but they are looking to get back to the finals for the first time since 2013. They won the fourth edition of this tournament back in 1968, but didn't hoist the trophy again until 2003. Since then they have been to two finals in 2006 and 2013/14, but came up empty. 

League form: LAFC 

LAFC had a great start to their domestic league season but things have gone downhill over the last five matches. They have won just one of those five, losing two and drawing two including their weekend match against San Diego FC. They are currently sitting third in the Western Conference with 21 points after winning 6, drawing 3 and losing 2 of their first 11 matches of the campaign. There might be a case of the CCC taking its toll on LAFC in the league, but they have come this far and need to put in maximum effort tonight in Toluca before getting back to the league. 

League form: Toluca  

The Liga MX Clausura playoffs commenced last weekend and the Red Devils suffered a touch 1-0 defeat at home against Pachuca. Toluca was the fifth seed in the playoffs while Pachuca was fourth after finishing with one point more than the Red Devils. They took care of business away from home thanks to an Enner Valencia goal in the 8th minute. Toluca will have a chance at redemption this weekend but they will have to focus on the second leg of the semis here tonight before worrying about the domestic league playoffs. 

Star watch: LAFC 

When you take a look at the front line for LAFC you see some explosive attacking potential, and that all starts with Premier League legend Son Heung-Min. The former Tottenham man is central to everything that LAFC do. Denis Bouanga comes back from a yellow card suspension last game. He's got five goals in the CCC, and David Martinez has another four while Son has set up most of those with is team high six assists in the tournament. 

Star watch: Toluca 

He had an assist in the opening leg of the semis, setting up Jose Angulo for the lone goal Toluca scored in LA, but Paulinho played maybe two of his best matches back in the quarters. He scored a hat trick against the Galaxy in the first leg from Toluca and then buried the MLS side with a brace back in LA. He isn´t the only danger man up top for Toluca. Helinho will be looking to give the LAFC defense nightmares all evening and Alexis Vega is the top set up man for this potent attacking side. 

How they got here LAFC 

LAFC had a tough route to the semis. They took on Real Espana to open their CCC campaign and made light work of the Honduran side, beating them 7-1. They would then take on Alajuelense in the round of 16 and things were all square until the final minutes of the second leg against the Costa Ricans. David Martinez scored a stoppage time winner to advance LAFC to the quarters where they would meet Cruz Azul. A 3-0 win in LA was followed by a 1-1 draw against the seven time champions was enough to see LAFC off to the semis. 

How they got here: Toluca 

Toluca enjoyed a first round bye, but their round of 16 match up didn't start as planned. They lost 3-2 to San Diego FC before returning home and jumping all over the MLS club, winning 4-0 to advance to the quarter. In the quarters they met the LA Galaxy and Paulinho had a feast against the Los Angelinos. He had 5 goals of the 7 that Toluca scored over the course of both legs as Toluca reached the semis on a 7-2 aggregate. 

First leg recap

LAFC came out of the gate looking a bit timid in the first leg at home. They spent most of the first half chasing the match, but something happened out of the halftime break that seemed to spark them. They created a couple chances in the first minutes of the second 45 and it was Tim Tillman who put the home side up in the 50th minute. Jesus Angulo would equalize in the 73rd minute, but it was a late free kick from Son Heung-Min that found the head of Nkosi Tafari who tucked a stoppage time winner home to give the MLS side a leg up coming into this second leg from Toluca. 

We are live from Toluca  

Hello everyone and welcome to the Estadio Nemesio Diez where Toluca have been on a tear in this tournament, and will need to replicate some more magic as the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal heads south of the border. LAFC won the first leg 2-1 thanks to a stoppage time goal to take the advantage back to Toluca tonight but the Red Devil's away goal certainly gives them plenty of options coming this second leg. It’s going to be non stop action tonight as two attacking minded team go head to head for a spot in the final.

Toluca vs. LAFC second leg  

We have 90 minutes to decide the second finalist in the Concacaf Champions Cup final at the end of the month. Liga MX Toluca return to the Estadio Nemesio Diez looking to turn things around in the second leg after LAFC got the best of them in California last week. One club will punch their ticket to the CCC final while another team will come up heartbreakingly short. AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of tonight's game from Toluca.